NEWSROUND


Jewson launches ‘Let’s Get Britain Building NOW!’ campaign


STARK UK and Jewson have launched a national ‘Let’s Get Britain Building - NOW!’ campaign,


Bringing together builders, tradespeople and construction businesses, the campaign warns that unless urgent action is taken, the Government’s housing and growth ambitions cannot be achieved, calling for immediate government intervention, including: • Financial incentives to stimulate demand and help more people buy and improve homes. • The removal of VAT on refurbishment and retrofit projects. • Radical planning reform to speed up decisions and reduce unnecessary costs.


Benchmarx celebrates 20th anniversary


Kitchen supplier, Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. Travis Perkins launched its dedicated kitchen offering with the opening of its first Benchmarx showroom in Croydon, South London in 2006. In the two decades since, the kitchen


supplier has gone through a huge expansion, with an extensive 134-branch network across the UK. To celebrate its birthday, Benchmarx colleagues are seeking to raise £20,000 in 20 days for the business’ chosen charity, Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity, which


• Greater investment in apprenticeships and construction skills.


Alongside a national petition, campaign leaders are seeking to take the issue to Parliament to secure a national debate on the future of Britain’s construction industry.


Jewson divisional managing


director, Kieran Griffin, says: “The economics of building have become increasingly difficult, as the costs associated with more regulation, taxes and levies mount up for every new home built. Material costs have risen by around 40 per cent since 2020 and are expected to increase further in the years ahead. Combined with rising borrowing costs, planning


delays and weaker consumer confidence, many projects that would once have been financially viable are now being postponed or abandoned altogether. “This is no longer a future challenge; it is a present-day emergency.


“Construction sits at the heart of the British economy and infrastructure. It delivers homes, jobs and investment in every town across Britain, yet the sector is under enormous pressure from every direction. Businesses are closing, projects are stalling, and skilled workers are leaving the industry. If the government wants growth, it needs to support the people and businesses that are physically building the country.”


offers vital support to those who need it as well as funding groundbreaking research. Rosie Wise, managing director of Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery, said: “Hitting our 20th anniversary is a massive milestone. We’ve come a long way since opening our very first branch in Croydon, and today we’re proud to support trade customers nationwide with the high-quality kitchens and standout service we’ve built our reputation on.”


City Plumbing strengthens spares support


City Plumbing, part of Highbourne Group, has launched a series of updates to its SparesFinder tool. The updates include the launch of a new Diagram Picker, which allows installers to visually identify boiler parts using appliance diagrams.


The new feature, which currently covers 150 appliances, allows installers to select appliances, click the numbered component they need, and view


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the matching spare part alongside pricing and availability information. SparesFinder offers installers access to over 20,000 spare parts, searchable by GC number, part number, or make and model for next-day collection, with over 250 available for immediate pickup at any branch.


The plumbing, heating and electrical merchant has also recently extended its Lowest Price Guarantee to include a selection


of spares, helping installers access competitive pricing across more of the products they use regularly. Roz Kane, managing director of spares, electrical and renewables at City Plumbing, said: “We know heating engineers often use the summer months to encourage customers to get ahead with annual boiler servicing, before diaries become more focused on faults, breakdowns and urgent repair work later in the year. That


Plasterboard manufacturer Knauf UK & Ireland has set up a new partnership with Reconomy Connect to enhance its plasterboard take-back service and manage plasterboard waste. Plasterboard is highly recyclable, with both its gypsum core and paper layers capable of being reprocessed. Despite this, plasterboard waste on construction sites often exceeds expectations. If not separated and recycled, it must be disposed of in separate mono- cell landfill site, a process that is environmentally detrimental and costly.


The new partnership will divert plasterboard waste directly to trusted gypsum reprocessors, so that recycled gypsum can be fed back into the manufacturing process. Where this option does not make economical or environmental sense, local processors will be utilised to ensure landfill is avoided at all costs.


Knauf UK &


Ireland moves to enhance recycling


makes this an important time for heating engineers to have fast access to the spares, service packs and support they need to plan ahead and keep jobs moving.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net July 2026


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